José de Urrutia
Encyclopedia
José de Urrutia was a Spanish explorer and settler of Texas
, who became captain of San Antonio de Béjar Presidio and long lived with the natives of East Texas.
, Spain
around 1678. Due to their participation in the Domingo Teran de los Rios
expedition, he and his brother, Toribio, settled in Texas
sometime before 1691. During this time, Urrutia lived in the barracks that were built near the Neches River
. Many of the soldiers who were exploring with Domingo Teran de los Rios
pulled out of Texas
in the winter of 1693, due the increasing hostility of the Tejas Indians.
Shortly after, José de Urrutia had an accident on the San Marcos River
, (scholars now believe it was actually the Colorado River
or the Christmas River). Due to his injury, he was forced to stay with the Native Americans in the region. However, he was not alone, as three soldiers chose to stay with him. Urrutia lived with the Kanohatinos, Xarames and Tohos trbies for seven years and established important links with these natives. He quickly earned the respect of these tribes by learning their languages and customs. In fact, he became "captain" of all nations hostile to the Apaches, and he conducted further extensive wars against the Apache Nation. In 1696, he returned to New Spain
. There, he held a prominent position with the Spanish government military. In 1700, after the founding of Mission San Juan Bautista
, he decided to resume his explorations in Texas
.
After settling in San Antonio, Urrutia was named captain of San Antonio de Bexar Presidio on July 23, 1733. After forty years of experience dealing with the natives of Coahuila
, Nuevo Leon
and Texas
, and he was one of the best informed of all the Spanish on the issues and problems that guided Indian life in this state. His hate for the Apaches remained, and in the winter of 1739, he decided to conduct another war against the Apaches in the region of San Saba
. Apparently, San Saba was also the place where the soldiers Juan Antonio Bustillo y Ceballos
had carried out its war on Apache in 1732, as well.
, in the state of Coahuila
, Mexico
. But later, after the death of his first wife during childbirth, he had a second wife, Rosa Flores and Valdez, with who he had four daughters and six sons, including Toribio de Urrutia who later would happen to him as captain of the Presidio de Bexar. Urrutia died on July 16, 1741.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, who became captain of San Antonio de Béjar Presidio and long lived with the natives of East Texas.
Biography
José de Urrutia was born in Guipuzcoa, Basque CountryBasque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
around 1678. Due to their participation in the Domingo Teran de los Rios
Domingo Terán de los Ríos
Domingo Terán de los Ríos served as the first governor of Spanish Texas from 1691 to 1692.-Previous service:Terán served the Spanish crown in Peru for two decades. He came to Mexico in 1681, and was governor of the province of Sonora y Sinaloa for approximately five years...
expedition, he and his brother, Toribio, settled in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
sometime before 1691. During this time, Urrutia lived in the barracks that were built near the Neches River
Neches River
The Neches River flows for through east Texas to its mouth on Sabine Lake near the Rainbow Bridge. Two major reservoirs, Lake Palestine and B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir are located on the Neches. Several cities are located along the Neches River Basin, including Evadale, Tyler, Lufkin, Silsbee,...
. Many of the soldiers who were exploring with Domingo Teran de los Rios
Domingo Terán de los Ríos
Domingo Terán de los Ríos served as the first governor of Spanish Texas from 1691 to 1692.-Previous service:Terán served the Spanish crown in Peru for two decades. He came to Mexico in 1681, and was governor of the province of Sonora y Sinaloa for approximately five years...
pulled out of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in the winter of 1693, due the increasing hostility of the Tejas Indians.
Shortly after, José de Urrutia had an accident on the San Marcos River
San Marcos River
The San Marcos River rises from the San Marcos Springs, the location of Aquarena Springs, in San Marcos, Texas. The springs are home to several threatened or endangered species, including the Texas Blind Salamander, Fountain Darter, and Texas Wild Rice...
, (scholars now believe it was actually the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
or the Christmas River). Due to his injury, he was forced to stay with the Native Americans in the region. However, he was not alone, as three soldiers chose to stay with him. Urrutia lived with the Kanohatinos, Xarames and Tohos trbies for seven years and established important links with these natives. He quickly earned the respect of these tribes by learning their languages and customs. In fact, he became "captain" of all nations hostile to the Apaches, and he conducted further extensive wars against the Apache Nation. In 1696, he returned to New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
. There, he held a prominent position with the Spanish government military. In 1700, after the founding of Mission San Juan Bautista
Mission San Juan Bautista
Mission San Juan Bautista was founded on June 24, 1797 in what is now the San Juan Bautista Historic District of San Juan Bautista, California. Barracks for the soldiers, a nunnery, the Jose Castro House, and other buildings were constructed around a large grassy plaza in front of the church and...
, he decided to resume his explorations in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
After settling in San Antonio, Urrutia was named captain of San Antonio de Bexar Presidio on July 23, 1733. After forty years of experience dealing with the natives of Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
, Nuevo Leon
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and he was one of the best informed of all the Spanish on the issues and problems that guided Indian life in this state. His hate for the Apaches remained, and in the winter of 1739, he decided to conduct another war against the Apaches in the region of San Saba
San Saba, Texas
San Saba is a town located in Central Texas. It was settled in 1854 and named for its location on the San Saba River. The population was at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of San Saba County...
. Apparently, San Saba was also the place where the soldiers Juan Antonio Bustillo y Ceballos
Juan Antonio Bustillo y Ceballos
Juan Antonio Bustillo y Ceballos was a soldier and governor of Texas and Coahuila, Mexico. He also served as alcalde ordinario in Mexico City.- Biography :...
had carried out its war on Apache in 1732, as well.
Personal life
The 07 of January,1697 Urrutia married with Antonia Ramon and they had a daughter, Antonia. The couple married in the parish church of Santiago Apostol, MonclovaMonclova
On the other hand, temperatures during late spring and summer can have bouts of extreme heat, with evenings above 40°C for many consecutive days. In recent decades the hottest records have climbed as high as 43°C on July 13, 2005 and 45°C on May 4, 1984. However nighttime low temperatures are...
, in the state of Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. But later, after the death of his first wife during childbirth, he had a second wife, Rosa Flores and Valdez, with who he had four daughters and six sons, including Toribio de Urrutia who later would happen to him as captain of the Presidio de Bexar. Urrutia died on July 16, 1741.